Few buildings in Bay City have worn as many names as the theatre at 913 Washington Avenue. It opened in 1908 as the Bijou, became the Orpheum, then the Bay, and finally the State. Today it hosts concerts, comedy, films and holiday screenings, and it anchors the downtown evening scene.
From vaudeville to the movies
The theatre opened on September 8, 1908, as the new Bijou Theatre, part of W.S. Butterfield's Bijou circuit, with four live acts and a motion-picture presentation billed as the "Bijouscope." It was built during Michigan's lumbering era, when Bay City supported many vaudeville and burlesque houses. It was renamed the Orpheum in 1920, switched to full-length films in 1926 and added sound films in 1928.
The Mayan Revival makeover
In 1930 the theatre was renovated and reopened as the Bay, in a Mayan Revival style with a large marquee featuring a Mayan headdress theme. The architect was C. Howard Crane, and the design shared elements with the Fox Theatre in Detroit. A 1957 remodel covered much of the Mayan decoration and gave the building its current name, the State.
Restoration
In 2000 a volunteer group, the Friends of the State Theatre, began renovating the building. Over the following years the work included a new roof, carpet, stage curtains and seating, refinished hardwood floors, updated lighting and sound and a new stage in front of the screen for live shows. The 1930-style interior paint scheme was restored in 2005. In 2008 a digital projector and a new Mayan-themed marquee were installed, and the marquee won the International Sign Association's 2009 Traditional/Historic Sign Award.
Recent years
The theatre closed on March 1, 2024, and went through bankruptcy proceedings. It was bought by a new owner and reopened in October 2024. Programming and ownership details can change, so check the theatre's ticket page for what is on.
What you can see there
The State Theatre and the nearby Court Street Theatre list a mix of tribute concerts, touring comedians, film series and free holiday movies on their ticket page. Examples from our events calendar include the Hell's Half Mile Film Series, comedy nights and free seasonal movies such as Hocus Pocus, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, The Grinch and Elf. Dates and ticket prices change, so use the calendar and the theatre's own listing.
Visiting tips
- Arrive early and have dinner downtown first. See our Eat page.
- Look up. The marquee and interior are part of the experience.
- Check for free events. Free holiday movies are popular, so arrive early.
- Add shows to your calendar directly from the events page.
More downtown arts
Bay City Players, on Columbus Avenue, calls itself the oldest continuously operating community theatre in Michigan, and the Historic Masonic Temple on N Madison Avenue hosts concerts and film nights. See the Things to Do and Nightlife pages.
Sources
History from the public encyclopedia article on the State Theatre, with event details from the theatre's ticket page. This guide is independent and is not run by the theatre.